Average salary for a brain surgeon

Brain surgeons, or neurosurgeons, perform surgeries on a patient’s neural system, which includes the brain. The salary of a neurosurgeon varies based on a number of factors, including her level of experience. The type of hospital and industry for which a neurosurgeon works also influences her salary.

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Experience

Salaries for brain surgeons generally increase the longer they practice. Those with 20-plus years of experience are at the top of their profession and may make a salary in excess of £100,000 a year, while those with 10 to 19 years of experience have a salary range of £80,000 to £90,000, as of May 2014. Brain surgeons with five to nine years of experience generally earn around £63,000 a year. While in training, you would receive £22,636 in the first year, but this would rise to £30,000 as soon as you qualify.

Employer type

Though many neurosurgeons work for hospitals, there are a number of other facilities that employ them. Those specifically working for hospitals fall into both the public and the private sector. Further employment types include training others, or getting involved in research. As a rule, those surgeons working in the private sector get paid more than NHS surgeons and consultants working on short contracts earn more than those in permanent employment.

Industries

Various industries employ neurosurgeons. Neurosurgeons working for general hospitals get a range of bonuses and benefits, so don't only go by the basic salary. Even trainee surgeons receive bonus that are the equivalent of an extra 40 per cent over their basic salary. The top earning brain surgeons in the UK earn around £250,000 a year.

Location

Brain surgeons, like with any other profession, are more likely to get higher salaries in the big cities of the United Kingdom than in small county hospitals. However, bear in mind that the cost of living is usually higher in the big cities and large medical facilities will expect you to work at a high turnover to earn that extra money.

Benefits

The benefits and perks you can expect as a neurosurgeon include annual performance bonuses, pension plans and malpractice protection. Even NHS hospitals provide their surgeons with lease cars. Army medical officers can also expect the private education of their children to be paid for, too.